Place the minced garlic in a mortar and pestle and crush to form a paste. (Alternatively, place in a small bowl and use the back of a spoon to crush.)
Place the garlic in a small bowl with half of the butter or olive oil and heat for 1 minute in the microwave.
Whisk in the salt and red pepper flakes until well incorporated, then whisk in the remaining butter or oil.
Slice the loaf in half through the middle, then spread the garlic mixture all over the cut edges of the loaves.
Place the sliced loaves on a cookie sheet and bake for 3 minutes until garlic butter is melted into the bread. Remove from oven.
Take a second baking sheet and press down on the top of the loaf to form a "press."
Bake for 6-8 minutes, checking at the 5 minute mark to prevent the minced garlic from burning. The bread should be deeply golden and will have a few dark brown spots, especially where the minced garlic is concentrated.